Will Quinn on Modern Warehouse Management, AI Adoption, and Supply Chain Visibility

What Happens When AI, Supply Chains, and Economic Uncertainty Collide in Wholesale Distribution?As interest rates remain under scrutiny, supply chains face new disruptions, and artificial intelligence continues to reshape business operations, wholesale distribution leaders are being forced to make smarter decisions with less room for error.In this episode of Around the Horn in Wholesale Distribution, hosts Kevin Brown and Tom Burton welcome Will Quinn, warehouse leadership expert, supply chain educator, and author of Modern Warehouse Management: Steel-Toed Leadership That Drives Performance. Together, they explore the current economic landscape, tariff uncertainty, warehouse strategy, AI adoption in distribution, and the growing importance of supply chain visibility in an increasingly complex global market.What You'll Learn:Why the Federal Reserve's latest interest rate decision has major implications for manufacturers, distributors, and supply chain planningHow tariffs, import uncertainty, and global trade disruptions are influencing inventory strategies and purchasing behaviorWhat warehouse leaders can learn from military logistics, operational discipline, and real-world distribution managementWhy AI-enabled supply chain management is becoming one of the fastest-growing skill sets in distributionHow organizations can improve inventory visibility, forecasting, and operational decision making without chasing every new technology trendWhy successful AI adoption starts with solving business problems first rather than purchasing shiny new toolsHow CRM-ERP integration, unified data systems, and intelligent business platforms support long-term growth and resilienceEpisode Highlights:00:00 – Welcome to Around the Horn in Wholesale Distribution and introduction to warehouse leadership expert Will Quinn07:10 – The Federal Reserve holds rates steady: what distributors and manufacturers should watch next15:45 – Retail spending, inflation pressures, and what economic signals mean for wholesale distribution teams22:30 – Tariff refunds, import activity, and why companies are accelerating inventory purchases31:50 – Why supply chain resilience remains one of the most important business capabilities in modern distribution38:40 – Lessons from Modern Warehouse Management and the role of steel-toed leadership in warehouse performance48:15 – AI in supply chain operations: where organizations are seeing real value today58:20 – Why AI-skilled supply chain professionals are becoming one of the most in-demand roles in distribution1:06:40 – Understanding AI models, governance, security, and vendor due diligence1:17:30 – Practical guidance for distribution leaders building an AI strategy that actually delivers resultsMeet the Guest:Will Quinn is a supply chain executive, warehouse leadership expert, educator, and author of Modern Warehouse Management: Steel-Toed Leadership That Drives Performance. With decades of experience across leading distribution organizations, Will specializes in warehouse operations, supply chain strategy, workforce development, and operational excellence.Tools, Frameworks, and Strategies Mentioned:Modern Warehouse Management FrameworkSteel-Toed LeadershipSupply Chain Visibility StrategiesInventory Visibility ToolsCollaborative Planning & Forecasting (CPFR)AI-Powered Supply Chain AnalyticsCRM-ERP IntegrationSmart CRM StrategyEnterprise Growth PlatformDigital Readiness for SuccessionFuture-Proofing DistributionAI Governance and Vendor Due DiligenceWarehouse Management Systems (WMS)Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)Leave a Review: Help us grow by sharing your thoughts on the show.Learn more about the LeadSmart AI B2B Sales Platform: https://www.leadsmarttech.com/Join the conversation each week on LinkedIn Live.Want even more insight to the stories we discuss each week? Subscribe to the Around The Horn Newsletter.You can also hear the podcast and other excellent content on our YouTube Channel.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or TikTok.